Valve device, in particular for a refrigerating machine

1. A valve device for a refrigerating machine that circulates a refrigerant, which the refrigerating machine is provided with at least one condenser and at least one evaporator, the valve device comprising:

at least one inlet, at which the refrigerant in the condenser can be fed to the valve device;

at least three outlets, through which the refrigerant in the valve device can be discharged into the evaporator;

a valve element, which is rotatably arranged about an axis (A) and can be brought into a plurality of positions (S 1 S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , S 5 , S 6 , S 7 ), the valve element including a rotatable panel having at least first and second recesses each dimensioned to allow communication between the at least one inlet and only a single one of the at least three outlets at any given rotational position of the panel;

wherein in a first position (S 1 ) the first outlet is connected to the inlet in order to convey refrigerant;

wherein in a second position (S 2 ) the second outlet is connected to the inlet in order to convey refrigerant;

wherein in a third position (S 3 ) the third outlet is connected to the inlet in order to convey refrigerant;

wherein in a fourth position (S 4 ) none of the at least three outlets is connected to the inlet and

wherein in a fifth position (S 5 ) at least two of the at least three outlets is connected to the inlet.

2. The valve device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least three outlets are arranged equidistantly to the axis (A).

3. The valve device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least three outlets are located on a circle, wherein the center of the circle is arranged on the axis (A) and the outlets are arranged equidistantly in the circumferential direction of the circle.

4. The valve device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the valve element comprises an adjusting dial which is preferably rotatable about the axis (A) by means of a gearwheel capable of being driven by a stepping motor.

5. The valve device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the adjusting dial comprises a panel which is rotationally asymmetrical with regard to the axis (A).

6. The valve device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the panel comprises at least two recesses which connects the inlet to at least one of the at least three outlets in order to convey refrigerant.

7. The valve device according to claim 1 , further comprising a sixth position (S 6 ) and a seventh position (S 7 ), in which at least two of the at least three outlets respectively are connected to the inlet.

8. The valve device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one position (S 4 ) in which none of the at least three outlets is connected to the inlet is arranged between two positions (S 5 ) in which at least two of the at least three outlets are connected to the inlet respectively.

9. A refrigerating machine comprising the valve device as claimed in claim 1 .

10. The refrigerating machine as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the condenser, an evaporator, a compressor and at least three flow restricting units arranged in parallel which are connected to one of the at least three outlets of the valve device respectively and to the evaporator respectively.

11. The refrigerating machine as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the at least three flow restricting units have different pressure loss coefficients.

12. The refrigerating machine as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the condenser, at least three evaporators arranged in parallel, a compressor and at least three flow restricting units arranged in parallel which are connected to at least one of the at least three outlets of the valve device respectively and to one of the at least three evaporators respectively.

13. A domestic refrigerating appliance with a refrigerating machine as claimed in claim 9 .

14. The valve device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least three outlets are substantially equally spaced from one another.

15. The valve device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the at least three outlets are spaced about 120° from one another.

16. The valve device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the fifth position, the first and second outlets are connected to the inlet, in a sixth position, the first and third outlets are connected to the inlet and in a seventh position, the second and third outlets are connected to the inlet.

17. The valve device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh positions, each of the first and second recesses allows communication between the inlet and one of the at least three outlets.

18. The valve device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second recesses are arranged so that the inlet cannot be simultaneously aligned with the first, second and third outlets.

19. A method for controlling a valve device comprising:

conveyance of refrigerant from an inlet to a first outlet in a first position (S 1 ) of a rotatable valve element;

conveyance of refrigerant from the inlet to a second outlet in a second position (S 2 ) of a rotatable valve element;

conveyance of refrigerant from the inlet to a third outlet in the third position (S 3 );

the rotatable valve element including a rotatable panel having at least first and second recesses each dimensioned to allow communication between the at least one inlet and only a single one of the at least three outlets in any given position of the panel;

interruption of the flow of refrigerant in a fourth position (S 4 );

and

conveyance of refrigerant from the inlet to two of the first, second and third outlets in a fifth position (S 5 ).

20. The method for controlling the valve device as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the panel includes at least first and second blocking portions and wherein, in each of the first, second and third positions the first and second blocking portions block only a single one of the at least three outlets.